Irazu Costa Rica Restaurant

Irazu Costa Rican Restaurant is a Latin American restaurant in Chicago, Illinois that opened in 1990. It is cash only and BYOB. Irazu is located on the storied Milwaukee Avenue (Chicago) in the Bucktown/Wicker Park neighborhood on Chicago's north side. The name Irazu refers to a volcano in Costa Rica.[1]

Irazu Costa Rica Restaurant
Restaurant information
Established1990 (1990)
Owner(s)Henry and Miriam Cerdas
Food typeCosta Rican cuisine
Street address1865 N. Milwaukee
CityChicago
StateIllinois
Postal/ZIP Code60647
CountryUnited States
Coordinates41.9155°N 87.6851°W / 41.9155; -87.6851
Reservationsnot accepted
Websitewww.irazuchicago.com

The menu is known for Costa Rican sandwiches, traditional dishes, burritos, and its non-alcoholic drinks, especially milkshakes.[2] Owner Henry Cerdas described it as "Latin soul cuisine-an overlap of Mexican and South American food," and intended to be a casual, non-pretentious atmosphere suitable for kids.[3]

Decor

Anna Maria Barry-Jester of Five Thirty Eight's Life blog described the decor as, "A beautiful outdoor patio strung with lights and murals of volcanic scenes at indoor tables are the superficial draw....A chalkboard next to my table listed the top 10 sites to visit in Costa Rica, and the tables were covered in a particular red plastic that had me wondering if I’d been magically transported to Central America." [4]

National Media Coverage

National Best Burritos

Irazu was one of three Chicago restaurants to make The Daily Meal's top 35 best burritos in America list.[5][6]

Secret Life of Milkshakes (Food Network)

Irazu was profiled on "The Secret Life of Milkshakes" with Jim O'Connor on Food Network.[7]

Diners, Drive-ins and Dives (Food Network)

Irazu was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives with Guy Fieri visiting and sampling the chicharron with pico de gallo and a pepito sandwich with steak and black beans.[8][9] [10]

Check Please!

Irazu was featured on the PBS TV food show Check, Please!.[11]

Five Thirty Eight's Burrito Bracket

The popular Five Thirty Eight website of Nate Silver, owned by ESPN, profiled Irazu's burritos in its Burrito Bracket national competition. The blog noted the irony that burritos are not a Costa Rican food. Barry-Jester wrote, "It serves a popular burrito, but that’s not why people go there to eat."[4]

Chuckie Sparkles Special

Chuckie Sparkles awarded Irazu "Best Homestyle Restaurant in the City" every year from 1996 to 2020

References
  1. "Costa Rica's Irazú In Aid Of Olympic Dream". Insidecostarica.com. May 9, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  2. Aimee Thompson. "Best Global Sandwiches in Chicago". Chicagonow.com. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  3. Caitlin Murray Giles (February 23, 2012). "Take a Culinary World Tour Without Leaving Chicago". Chicago Parent.
  4. Barry-Jester, Anna Maria (July 8, 2014). "We Return to the Burrito Bracket's Chicago Roots".
  5. "The 35 Best Burritos in America 2014". Thedailymeal.com. June 24, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  6. "Chicago Nabs 3 Spots on List of "35 Best Burritos in America"". NBC Chicago. June 24, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  7. "Irazu Chicago, IL". Food Network. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  8. Bendersky, Ari (October 3, 2011). "Chilam Balam, Irazu, DMK All Set for Small Screen - Eater Chicago". Chicago.eater.com. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  9. http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/chicharron-at-irazu-0173487.embed.html
  10. http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/irazus-pepito-sandwich-0173488.embed.html
  11. "Irazu Chicago CheckPlease! report". YouTube. October 2, 2008. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
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